She marveled at the stars. She had been looking at them all her life yet for some irrational and unknown reason tonight they seemed alive, magical, beautiful, hers. Everything this night seemed alive, fresh and new. Like she was experiencing all for the first time. The smell of the wet grass below her, sound of distant traffic and the feel of the wood beneath her hands all seemed to coalesce into one perfect moment. She heard the door open behind her, the footsteps that came closer with each footfall and the sound of the music coming from downstairs. She jumped when the hands touched her arms. Not from suprise but rather the tiny spark she felt when their flesh touched. Even their love seemed alive tonight.
"Are you ready?" He asked as he brushed aside her flowing brown hair and gently kissed the back of her neck.
"Mmmmmm. I'm always ready for that." She responded warmly as she turned in his arms and returned the kiss. "But I suppose we have no time for such things."
"You suppose right. The car will be here any minute." He replied between kisses. I've already taken the bags downstairs. Everything is ready. Aren't you excited?"
"To become your wife? Of course." She kissed him long and hard this time. From below a car's horn sounded prompting the kiss' ending. "Time to go I guess."
With that the two headed downstairs, grabbed their bags and headed for the waiting car. The driver was ready for them and took their bags. After ensuring that they were comfortable in the back and that everything that was as they had requested he returned to his place behind the wheel and made his way towards the highway. It was a long drive to that other city that never slept. After about an hour on the highway the noises from the back prompted the driver to turn up the volume on the radio. He had learned from many such trips that people in the back never slept regardless how late the hour.
The city loomed before them like some luminous marvel. She couldn't help but crane her neck every which way trying to take it all in. Each passing second brought new sights and sounds to be enchanted by. The car made its way through the traffic filled streets to its destination. The driver got out and let his passengers out of the car. They couldn't help but stretch after the long drive as the driver retrieved their bags from the cars trunk. A bellman came up to the couple and after a brief exchange their bags were on their way. After tipping the driver they made their way into the veritable maze that was the hotel and checked in. It was going so well she thought. In a little more than twenty four hours she would be married and then would come the kids she thought. Oh, how she wanted children.
The elevator stopped on the twenty-second floor and opened to allow the couple out. They followed the usual signs that would lead them to their room. They walked arm in arm, seemingly so much in love. She counted off the room number until they reached their room, number thirty. She stood back while he opened the door with the key card and amazed with the opulence of the room behind the door. She rushed into the room trying to take it all in. First the bedroom, then the bathroom with its jacuzzi tub, then the sitting room. That was when everything came to a crashing halt.
"Hello there my dear." The stranger welcomed her. "I trust your trip was enjoyable."
She was speechless. She turned to her soon to be husband for help, for answers but he wasn't there. Where had he gone? "F-f-fine," she stammered. "Who are you?"
"I'm your new best friend." The man replied from the chair where he sat.
She heard a footstep behind her but before she could turn to see who it was blinding lights flashed before her eyes as she was hit over the head with what she later assumed was a lamp. The room went dark as her body went limp.
